HR&DC BLOG

The Haitian Renaissance

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Haiti Trip (January ‘19); Day Five: I have arrived at the Port au Prince airport. Battered yet satisfied by the accomplishments and life lessons rendered during this trip. In the distance the mass graves are quiet, again. And even though the warm Caribbean air fills the Haitian sky, Titanyen’s twelve month winter of abandonment and

Haiti Trip (January ‘19); Day Three: It’s a beautiful Sunday in Haiti. The sun is shining, church revival music fills the air and my spirits are good. Having weathered the emotional toll of yesterday’s anniversary, I’m looking forward to a less complex schedule. And though some of my activities will involve injured souls who handled

Haiti Trip (January ‘19); Day Two: Today is the anniversary of Haiti’s 2010 Earthquake. To observe this hallowed anniversary, I once again traveled to the main ceremonial (mass) grave site in Titanyen. At my side were three men (Aby, Reginald and Ronald) I have come to consider as my brothers. Some friendships are forged in

Haiti Trip (January ‘19); Day One: It’s early Friday morning and I am awaiting my flight from Tampa to Miami enroute to Haiti. It’s been over 31 million seconds since I last traveled to Haiti. Truth be told, I’ve needed every second of my sabbatical to repair myself physically, emotionally and spiritually. As concessions to

While touring the destruction of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, Jim Lange, Candidate for US House District 15 and CEO of the Haiti Recovery & Development Company encountered groups already in Haiti appearing to be preparing to profiteer on Haiti’s misery. Mr. Lange warned them misuse of donations from US Citizens would be exposed and would

Job Creation and Microfinancing… I started off my day by picking up a colleague of mine, in from the States, at the airport in Port au Prince. Immediately upon her arrival we met with the director of a global organization whose mission is to provide micro loans to small businesses. This was an fruitful first

I’m on my to Miami to participate in a gala (fundraiser) being conducted by Rebati Sante Mentale. RSM is a group of 200-plus psychiatrists whom I’ve selected to handle mental issues for me in Haiti. I am a guest of honor at the event and our aim is to raise awareness and funds specifically

Unlike my first five days in-country, the first half of today has been all about recovery and reflection. Recovery in the sense that I am teetering on the edge of exhaustion and, as a result, opted to limit myself to one meeting earlier this morning. As for reflection, my mind has continuously replayed specific

During my first trip to the resettlement camps (and future slums) in Croix des Bouquets, I once witnessed a man eating a plate of rice mixed with dirt. His courage and commitment to endure has never left me, and the image of his spoon has stuck in my throat like a fishbone to this